More than 1,200 people attend jobs fair in Wirral where around 275 jobs were up for grabs. Tony McDonough reports
A ‘record number’ of jobseekers flocked to a jobs fair in Wirral where 30 employers and training providers offered around 275 vacancies.
Held at Birkenhead Market in the town centre, the event attracted firms from across Liverpool city region, as well as Wirral itself. Organiser Wirral Council described it as “our busiest event yet”.
“While many services have moved online, events like this show the continued importance of face-to-face opportunities, helping to break down barriers and bring local people and employers together,” said Cllr Mark Skillicorn, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee.
This event is the latest in a series of jobs fairs delivered by Wirral Council in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation.
Previous events have focused on young people, seasonal roles, early years, and health and social care vacancies.
Although it will take some time for the final figures to be confirmed, early indications from the sample exit interviews suggest that 8% of attendees were offered a job on the day or already have a follow-up interview arranged.
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Nicki O’Connor, head of employer and strategic partnerships at Jobcentre Plus, added: “It was wonderful to see so many people engaging directly with employers and exploring new opportunities.
“Events such as this play an important role in supporting people into work, particularly those who benefit from something extra to online recruitment channels.
“The strong turnout and positive feedback from both jobseekers and employers shows just how valuable these in-person events are in helping people take their next step into employment or training.
Employers and training providers who are interested in attending the next jobs fair can get in touch with Wirral Council by emailing ec*******************@********ov.uk